Artfactories

The association "Autresparts", set up in September 2000, is a think-tank bringing together cultural actors and researchers on the relationship between art, territory and society. It merged in November 2007 with the Artfactories association, an European resource center on brownfields transformed into artistic spaces.

Art Villa Garikula is an independent contemporary art residency and art school in one hour drive from Tbilisi.

Main activities are: art education, international meetings, residencies and workshops, as well as tours in Kaspi region. It emphasizes the importance of dialogue between various disciplines and different backgrounds, as an important step to artistic development and diversity.
The centre cooperates with "art street", a new project by government and business sectors in Georgia, and has a gallery in the centre of Tbilisi.

Art Villa Garikula consists of a 3 storey family villa built in 1865 by a Polish engineer; the aim to provide adequate residency and contemporary education; the lasting search for new art forms and yearning for beauty and artistic taste in the innovation.
The centre also poses itself ethical questions like self-sustained function and harmonious connection with the environment.

Total surface of the site : 2,400 sq. m
Location : rural area
Former use, from 1865: family villa, army base, orphanage, squat, art students’ base.
Foundation year of the centre : 2000
Type of occupation: Artist In Residence/educational centre supporting international meetings of different disciplines of art.

Owner of the building : The building is owned by the Foundation for the Revival and Development of Cultural Heritage of Shida Karti, under a long-term lease by the Ministry of Culture, Monuments Protection and Sport of Georgia.

Drawing, Painting, Photography, Film, Multimedia, Sculpture, Performing art. Residencies and symposia, workshops, day events, focus on contemporary art, establishing contact between diverse artists, featuring regional meeting in the city of Tbilisi, and any events that help the centre grow.

Other structures/organisations resident on the site

Foundation for the Revival and Development of Cultural heritage of Shida Kartli.

Financial support

The centre has no sponsors which makes it self-reliant. Expenses on land, maintenance of the building, organization and promotion costs are equal or less to the income.